New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-30
THE LEAGUE UNDAUNTED.
pRoHIBirIoN FOLLOWS PROCLAMATION.
A TALK WITH Mr.. HARRINGTON sEohhiAhi o'
- ryv pvoscaIBEp oRGANIzATION-TR0UBLE
IN STORE FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL
NATIONALIST DrPUTATION TO
VISIT AMERICA.
[BY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNH.I


VISIT AMERICA.
IBY CABLE TO TIE TIuBUNgl
Copyright; 1887 The Neo- York tribune
LONDON, Aug. 29.-I hear tonight on good
authority that the Government have resolved 10
prohibit the National League throughout all Ire
land simultaneously. Prohibition is the next
step after proclamation and this will mean, II IT
means anything, vigorous attempt to suppress
all meetings Of the League and its branches
wherever held. The following interview which
had with Timothy Harrington, NJ p, secretary
of the National League, before his departure Tor
Dublin will therefore have especial significance.
"You do not,n said, "appear to view the
action of the Government with much misgfvingP
NO, answered Mr.. Harrington. 81 have very
little fear that the present Tory Government can
do us much injury. No doubt they will give some
trouble to our branches, but they are not likely
10 escape getting ten times more trouble them
selves The National League simply means the
whole body of the Nationalists in Ireland at the
present time. There never was an organization
which represented the universal feeling OF the
country TO such degree, and 1T is conceded by
the English themselves that they know no poiti-
cal organization in Europe that has better right
10 speak the sentiment of the country 1t repre-
sents."
as the position of the National League stronger
than that of the Land League at the time OF
its suppression"
"Yes, very much stronger. In the first place
we have some three or icir times the number of
branches which the Land League had when 1t
was proclaimed: and we have another advantage
which adds very materially to the strength f our
postion-we have very much larger proportion
of the clergy of the country identified with our
branches and holding influential positions in
them This will render it much more difficult
for the Government to suppress the organization"
"How do you think the Government will pro-
eeed ?"
1t is very difficult to say, and it would seem
as if they themselves had not yet made up their
minds as to the course thev will pursue. They
may proceed by q general order prohibiting the
League, or they may proceed by stages taking
first one county certain number of branches,
and then extending their operations. Should
they try the first course Of attacking all the
branches of the League together, have no doubt
that they are doomed to immediate failure. 1t
will take ten times the number OF police and
soldiers at their command to make an attack Of
that kind effective. On the other hand should
they adopt the course of beginning by partial pro-
hibition we shall give them much trouble in
the first districts they attack that they are not
likely to be in much heart to extend the area of
their campaign"
"Do you think the branches of the League will
meet despite the proclamation {"
"No doubt they will. and SO we shall advise
them"
"will this policy entail large number of i'm
prlsonments'"
$50 should think if the Government are at all
going to act up to their declarations; but
every trial. every arrest and every release from jail
will be made the occasion of immense popular
damo atr IN "a a ed q
rid Of the odum attaching to evictlons at least for
time by the fourth clause of their new Land Act,
which makes notice of eviction stand in place of
the actual taking of possession. The publicity
which we managed to procure tor Irish evicIOns
latterly was carrying English constituencies In our
favor and winning immense sympathy for our
cause among the masses of people in England. But
the Tory Government are very much mistaken
If they think the demonstrations at
every prosecution and arrest of mem
Der of tho National League will not be
equally eloquent and effective"
Twill the police find 1t easy to obtain evidence T.
"By no means / do not think an executive
government even Ireland ever entered upon
struggle of that kind with greater difficulties.
They will get member of our organization TO
assist or give the slightest cOuntenance to their
proceedings prosecutions. and as we cannot give
the si ghtest shadow of cOuntenance to the infam-
Gus code under which they proceed our men Will
not obey their summonses to attend either as wit
defendants In all such cases we
will put them to the necessity of first arresting the
men they want to try as we'll as those from whom
they waDt to extort information"
You Will continue the meetings of the Central
Branch IN OConnell-sf. as usual !"
Certainly. We shall continue them openly un-
til the time of proh bition and, long as member
Of our organization is left, we shall continue them
after Prohibition"
The first important prosecutions under the Coer-
cion Act will be those of William O'Brien. NJ. r..
and Mr.. Con.on, NJ. p, for speeches recently deliv
cred by them at Mitcbelstown. This will oc. a test
prosecution. Its result will 60 far 10 Indicate the
character the crisis will during the winter.
1t is to come off on September 0.
deputation Of the Irish party will shortly visit
America As at present arranged it will consist Of
Arthur OConnor, Member for Donegal. and Sir
Thomas Henry Grattan EsmOnde. Bart. Member
for South Dublin. Mr. OConnor is one of the
ablest and most distinguished members of
our party, as we'll as one of the
most advanced He it is who would
probably be chosen by unanimous consent to be
Speaker of an Irish Parliament ii we selecting
one tomorrow. Sir Thomas Esmonde is a great
grandson of Henry Grattau and possesses liberal
endowment OF his ilustrO Gus ancestors eoquence
He is o landlord, but good one. and belongs 10
one OF the oldest aud best Celtic-Norman families
of the County Wexford One of his ancestors, DR..
Esmoude, was hanged as a rebel on Carlisle Bridge
Dublin in '95. He is descended. moreover. from
the famous Irish Princess Grainne Faile. daughter
OF Laherty. King of Connaught, who gave the
English so much trouble IN Elizabeths day.
T. Z. GILL, NJ. r.